As a Philadelphia wedding photographer, I’ve photographed more than a few weddings at Love Park Philly! I’m even on the city’s preferred vendors list. In this blog post, I draw on my experience to create your ultimate guide to getting married at Love Park Philly. Weddings here are so fun and laid back. With the right planning, you can create a cozy, swept away feeling on your wedding day.

Love Park Philly: An Iconic Wedding Venue

Love Park Philly is one of the most iconic spots in the city. Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture has become a universally recognized symbol for the city. What better backdrop for a micro wedding?

Philadelphia doesn’t have City Hall weddings at the moment due to judges retiring. Love Park Philly is one of your best options for that lowkey, highly romantic atmosphere on your wedding day. The Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department holds Wedding Wednesdays for couples who want to get married here. 

What You Should Know about Getting Married at Love Park Philly

Getting married at Love Park Philly isn’t exactly like having a private wedding venue. There are some things you should know when you’re planning to say your vows here.

You’re inviting the whole city.

Love Park is a public park in the busiest part of the city. People might stop to watch your ceremony. They’ll congratulate you. It’s far from private, but that’s part of the fun! It feels spontaneous and joyful.

Punctuality is key.

The city allows people to sign up for 30-minute time slots back to back on Wedding Wednesdays. Give yourself ample time to get to the park so that you don’t miss your slot.

You get an officiant.

Part of the $200 fee includes the city assigning you an officiant from Journeys of the Heart. My clients have had good experiences with these officiants. They add nice touches to the ceremony and give you options to say your own vows.

I also appreciate that these officiants keep ceremonies to about fifteen minutes at the maximum. That gives us time to take photos in front of the LOVE sculpture before the next group gets started.

You can drop off your marriage license right after the ceremony.

After your ceremony, you can walk from Love Park Philly to City Hall to drop off your license. It’s a relief to get all the paperwork off your plate so you can just enjoy yourself. 

Keep in mind that City Hall doesn’t allow photos inside the records room where you turn in your marriage license. Sometimes they allow your photographer to accompany you upstairs. I love doing portraits in the stairwell. It’s cool and quiet with amazing architecture. You still get those cinematic City Hall photos even if it’s not in the records room.

How to Personalize Your Love Park Wedding

Just because Love Park Philly weddings run like well-oiled machines doesn’t mean they have to feel generic! You can personalize your wedding just like you would if you were getting married elsewhere. Here are some of my favorite ways that I’ve seen people customize their experience.

1. Wear clothes that are meaningful to you.

Bring your culture and your tastes to your Love Park Philly wedding by wearing clothes that hold special significance. Ottman looked dashing in his traditional wedding clothes when he married Michelle at Love Park.

2. Rent a private dining room at your favorite restaurant.

When Lindsay and Michael got married at Love Park Philly, a lot of Michael’s family were seeing the city for the first time. Lindsay and Michael rented a private dining room at The Dandelion after their Wednesday wedding. Everyone enjoyed high tea within walking distance of Love Park.

3. Spend time getting portraits with the people who came to celebrate you.

Michelle and Ottman’s families arrived a few days before their wedding to get to know one another and spend time in the city. Family is super important to them. We took some really sweet portraits and candid photos of everyone celebrating their new marriage before heading to lunch.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding at Love Park Philly? I’d love to document your intimate wedding with candid photos! Inquire with me!